By the shores of Lianyungang, where unique seaweed thrives in unparalleled growing conditions, a local brand called "Gan Hai Wa" (Seaside Kid) is now shipping its seaweed snacks nationwide via e-commerce. This expansion has created numerous "mom jobs," allowing women to package products while balancing family responsibilities.

Fan Junhu, the visionary behind this venture, has connected nature’s bounty with e-commerce’s dynamism, stabilizing an otherwise volatile marine economy.

### Returning Home: Trading Promotions for a New Beginning In 2002, fresh out of school, Fan Junhu moved to Suzhou to work at a top global electronics firm. Rising from an assembly line worker to managing a 60-person logistics team, he was on the fast track—until 2008, when he turned down a management role in Xiamen to return to his hometown.

"Some values can’t be measured by KPIs," Fan realized. But reality hit hard—job applications went unanswered, pushing him toward entrepreneurship.

### Trial and Error: Finding a Path in E-Commerce For a decade, Fan dabbled in cross-border e-commerce, riding early waves of online retail. But as brands took over direct sales, his role as a middleman collapsed. A warehouse fire later wiped out his inventory, teaching him a crucial lesson: **Without a proprietary brand or stable supply chain, success is fleeting.**

### The Breakthrough: Partnering with "New E-Commerce" In 2017, as head of the local e-commerce association, Fan was struck by a question: *Why hasn’t Lianyungang’s premium seaweed taken off?* Research revealed systemic flaws—unpredictable harvests, rushed processing, and volatile pricing.

His solution? Build a factory and launch "Gan Hai Wa," injecting industrial certainty into traditional agriculture.

When PDD Holdings Inc’s user base surged in 2018, Fan saw an opportunity. Platform managers proactively supported his brand, securing subsidies and sharing consumer trends. By 2023, "Gan Hai Wa" topped PDD’s seaweed category, with monthly sales exceeding 150,000 orders.

PDD’s "Go West" policy further expanded his reach. "Shipping to remote areas like Tibet used to cost more than the product itself," Fan noted. "Now, with subsidized logistics, we’ve unlocked new markets."

### Reinventing the Supply Chain: From Gambling to Planning Historically, seaweed farming was a gamble—overproduction risked losses, while underproduction missed opportunities. Fan’s contracts with suppliers changed that.

"Produce as much as you can—we’ll buy it all," he pledged, locking in prices and profits. This shift from *produce-first* to *demand-driven* stabilized the entire supply chain.

### Flexible Jobs: Empowering Rural Women At Fan’s factory, run by his wife Li Na, rigid schedules don’t exist. Workers—mostly women—clock in around family duties. No penalties for absences; just mutual trust.

"We came home to care for our families," Fan said. "Now, we’re helping others do the same." The factory’s 40+ employees earn up to 5,000 yuan monthly, blending livelihood with flexibility.

### The Bigger Picture: "New Quality Productivity" Meets Rural China Fan’s story isn’t just about entrepreneurship—it’s systemic reform. By merging e-commerce efficiency with rural realities, he’s created a model where: - Farmers no longer rely solely on weather. - Women gain economic independence. - Local industries thrive sustainably.

Platforms like PDD act as catalysts, bridging the first and last miles of commerce. As "Gan Hai Wa" grows, upstream investments in seedlings and machinery follow, lifting the entire ecosystem.

On these once-uncertain shores, Fan has built a harbor—not just for seaweed, but for a new future.